Happy Deepavali

Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) Cawangan Semenyih ingin mengucapkan Selamat Menyambut Hari Deepavali bersama keluarga tercinta.

KG Hakka Serah Memorandum di SUHAKAM

Hari ini, para penduduk Kg Hakka dari Mantin, Negeri Sembilan telah hadir ke Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia (SUHAKAM) untuk membuat aduan mengenai keganasan serta salah laku polis ketika pengusiran paksa serta perobohan rumah yang berlaku pada 30/9/2013.

Sdr. Arul, Setiausaha Agung PSM telah memberi penerangan mengenai insiden-insiden yang berlaku serta bagaimana pihak polis bertindak kasar terhadap para penduduk biasa yang hanya hendak mempertahankan rumah mereka yang diduduki lebih seratus tahun. Video kekasaran pihak polis turut ditayangkan kepada pihak SUHAKAM.

Pada 30/9/2013, pihak polis gagal bertindak secara neutral tetapi menunjukkan "keberanian" mereka kepada rakyat jelata dengan bertindak kasar. Akibat kekarasan ini, ada penduduk yang cedera, malah ada yang patah tangan. Bukan itu saja, aktivis-aktivis yang membantu penduduk turut dipukul selepas ditahan di dalam van. Seramai 15 orang telah ditahan pada hari itu.

Tindakan polis ini harus dikecam dan pihak polis seharusnya berasa malu kerana hanya pandai menunjukkan keberanian mereka terhadap rakyat miskin yang hanya ingin mempertahankan hak perumahan mereka!

Sambutan Hari Habitat Sedunia

Hari Habitat Sedunia disambut pada setiap Hari Isnin minggu pertama bulan Oktober. Pada tahun ini, hari habitat jatuh pada 7/10/2013. Sempena hari Habitat Sedunia, lebih 200 orang telah berkumpul di Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur untuk menyambutnya. Mereka terdiri daripada para penduduk Kg Hakka yang sedang berhadapan dengan masalah pengusiran paksa akibat pembangunan mega projek di tanah mereka; penduduk ladang dari ladang Semenyih dan Denudin yang masih menanti rumah alternatif kerana ladang mereka telah dijual untuk pembangunan; masyarakat Orang Asli yang mengalami masalah pengambilan tanah; Penduduk Tmn Permata yang tinggal di khemah untuk hari ke-119 akibat keretakan pada flat mereka yang mengancam serta bahaya kepada mereka; badan-badan bukan Kerajaan; golongan anak muda dan para pelajar serta individu-individu telah bersama untuk menuntut hak perumahan.

Hari Habitat ini dianjurkan oleh Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas atau lebih dikenali sebagai JERIT yang merupakan satu kumpulan masyarakat yang memperjuangkan hak perumahan rakyat. Tema tahun ini adalah "Rakyat Mahu Rumah ! Bukan Menara Warisan". Ini adalah untuk membantah tindakan kerajaan yang beria-ia untuk membina projek mega menara warisan tetapi tidak langsung mengendahkan kesengsaraan yang dihadapi oleh rakyat jelata. Harga rumah yang semakin melambung juga menyukarkan ramai orang yang berpendapatan rendah untuk memiliki sebuah rumah yang selesa.

Para penduduk yang berkumpul di Dewan Perhimpunan Cina Selangor sejak jam 3.30 ptg, berarak menuju ke jalan Sultan Ismail dengan laungan slogan "Rumah-Rumah,  Hak Rakyat! Hidup Rakyat!". Wakil-wakil penduduk dan NGO telah memberikan ucapan dan program hari Habitat berakhir dengan bacaan Deklarasi seperti berikut:

DEKLARASI HARI HABITAT SEDUNIA 2013

RAKYAT MAHU RUMAH

BUKAN MENARA WARISAN!

Sempena Hari Habitat Sedunia 2013, JERIT bersama kumpulan -kumpulan Organisasi Masyarakat menuntut kerajaan Malaysia;

1. Menyediakan Perumahan mampu milik yang selesa, cukup ruang, dengan kemudahan yang perlu untuk pembangunan sosial keluarga dan komuniti

2. Hentikan ancaman kepada Habitat Rakyat dengan projek seperti Lynas, Lombong Emas di Bukit Koman & Projek Petrokimia di Pengerang

3. Kerajaan harus mengambil alih penyelenggaraan bagi Flat kos rendah dan sederhana di seluruh Malaysia.

4. Mengubal Undang –undang Skim Perumahan Sendiri Pekerja Ladang

5. Iktiraf tanah adat orang asli/asal, hentikan rampasan tanah adat.

6. Hentikan pengusiran paksa dan iktiraf hak Peneroka Bandar

Pada 2012, dalam Budget 2013 , Perdana Menteri beria-ia mengumumkan bahawa rakyat Malaysia kini dengan mudah dapat memiliki rumah mampu milik yang berharga RM100,000 hingga RM400,000. Kerajaan juga akan membina 123,000 unit rumah dengan kelonggaran maksimum dalam memiliki rumah pertamaku. Tapi apakah 70% rakyat Malaysia dengan pendapatan seisi keluarga kurang daripada RM3000 dapat memiliki satu rumah mampu milik? Adakah PR1MA ini telah menyelesaikan masalah perumahan di Malaysia terutamanya di bandar –bandar besar.

Sejak 10 tahun kebelakangan ini harga hartanah di Malaysia melonjak sangat tinggi. Bukan itu sahaja, kos sara hidup juga telah meningkat begitu tinggi sekali sehingga gaji RM 3000 pun tidak cukup untuk hidup sekarang. Maka dalam keadaan ini apakah pilihan rakyat untuk memiliki satu rumah yang “decent”?

Bukan itu sahaja, keghairahan kerajaan dalam membelanjakan wang dalam projek-projek yang tidak memanfaatkan rakyat seperti pembinaan Menara Warisan yang akan menelan belanja lebih kurang 5 billion tidak membantu dalam penyelesaian isu perumahan rakyat.

Apakah fungsi Menara Warisan 100 tingkat kepada rakyat, manakala ramai rakyat Malaysia masih tidak mempunyai rumah yang selesa mahupun rumah untuk tinggal? Bukan setakat tiada rumah, tetapi tindakan kerajaan yang membenarkan syarikat seperti Kilang Lynas beroperasi di Malaysia, merosakkan habitat rakyat dan mengancam nyawa rakyat.

RUMAH RAKYAT SARANG BURUNG! MENARA DIBINA BAGAIKAN ISTANA KACA!

Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT) sempena Hari Habitat Sedunia pada 7 Oktober 2013 menuntut kerajaan mengimplementasi Deklarasi Agenda Habitat di Istanbul, 1986 yang ditandatanganinya. Kerajaan Malaysia telah bersetuju untuk memberikan keutamaan kepada Perumahan yang mencukupi dan selesa dan memberi komitmen untuk menyediakannya untuk rakyat. Akan tetapi apakah langkah –langkah yang diambil selain daripada polisi –polisi kosong ?

Di peringkat Antarabangsa hak perumahan dan petempatan untuk setiap manusia diberikan keutamaan dan dijamin melalui resolusi-resolusi antarabangsa. Resolusi-resolusi ini memastikan dan menjamin sesebuah kerajaan harus menyediakan perumahan yang mencukupi dan selesa kepada setiap rakyatnya. Kerajaan Malaysia juga telah menandatangani beberapa resolusi antarabangsa. Antaranya yang ditandatangani oleh kerajaan Malaysia adalah Deklarasi Habitat Agenda 1992 , Agenda 21 dan Resolusi Suruhanjaya Persatuan bangsa-bangsa Bersatu mengenai Hak Perumahan 1993.

Di Malaysia polisi-polisi dan pelaksanaan perancangan perumahan oleh kerajaan seringkali dipertikaikan oleh rakyat mahupun badan-badan bukan kerajaan. Kerajaan Malaysia demi merealisasikan pembentukkan Negara maju telah dan sedang mengabaikan kepentingan perumahan dan petempatan golongan berpendapatan rendah seperti pekerja-pekerja Ladang, masyarakat kampung, masyarakat peneroka Bandar (setinggan), masyarakat Orang asli/orang asal, masyarakat nelayan, masyarakat petani, masyarakat miskin Bandar dan juga kelas pertengahan bandar.

Akibat harga rumah yang melambung tinggi masyarakat miskin dan kelas pertengahan Bandar tidak dapat memiliki sebuah rumah. Masyarakat peneroka Bandar pula disumbat dalam flat-flat kos rendah bagaikan sarang burung yang mengundang pelbagai masalah sosioekonomi. Pekerja ladang dihalau dari ladang tanpa sebarang perumahan alternative.

Polisi-polisi Kerajaan yang membenarkan pelaburan asing di Malaysia kini mengancam kehidupan rakyat. Perlombongan emas dengan menggunakan cynide dan nadir bumi projek LYNAS di Pahang banyak mengundang ancaman kepada kesihatan penduduk yang tinggal disekitarnya. Kegagalan kerajaan Malaysia mengawal pembalakan haram serta pembangunan kawasan hutan (yang tidak terancang) menyebabkan masyarakat Orang asli/asal kehilangan tempat tinggal dan juga Tanah Adat yang sangat bernilai pada mereka.

Bukan itu sahaja, kelas pertengahan juga menghadapi masalah memiliki rumah kerana harga rumah melambung tinggi dan banyak spekulasi berlaku dalam sektor hartanah.

Dalam keadaan ini, kerajaan pula berbelanja dengan boros untuk perkara –perkara seperti pembinaan Menara Warisan –RM 5 billion, rumah terbuka Perdana Menteri – RM 2.88 dan menjadikan Pejabat PM bangunan hijau – RM 110 million, Projek MRT ( Lembah Kelang ) –RM 43 billion dan sebagainya. Kalau kerajaan menggunakan duit rakyat untuk projek mega sebegini, bagaimana ia boleh menyelesaikan isu perumahan rakyat ?

Isu perumahan rakyat biasa semakin hari semakin teruk dimana harga rumah adalah terlalu tinggi sehingga rakyat biasa tidak dapat memilikinya, masalah rakyat “homeless” meningkat dan habitat rakyat diancam dengan projek mega ataupun projek yang membahayakan nyawa rakyat.

Adalah tugas sebuah kerajaan untuk memastikan keperluan asas rakyat dipenuhi. Rumah adalah satu keperluan asas. Maka perlulah kerajaan Malaysia menggariskan satu polisi perumahan rakyat yang berfaedah dan mengutamakan isu ini daripada membelanjakan untuk projek mega. Kerajaan harus mengambil kira semua lapisan masyarakat dalam menangani isu perumahan dan bukan hanya fokus kepada ‘vote bank”.

Perumahan untuk semua!

Kampong Hakka – when 100 years existence is not a matter- Arutchelvan

Kampong Hakka – when 100 years existence is not a matter- Arutchelvan

The first Monday Every October is designated by the UN as the World Habitat Day. The main purpose to celebrate this date among others is to reflect on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. UN has dedicated one day to highlight the plight of people fighting for shelter as it seems that the right to a home is one of the most fundamental human rights. With this, let me argue the case of kampong Hakka in Mantin, Negeri Sembilan.

When I first stepped into kampong Hakka a year ago, I was amazed that a Chinese new village complete with temple, community hall and school existed in this village and I was further shocked to learn that all the people living there have been declared as illegal’s just because some rich company has bought their land.

When I looked at the building structure of their homes and their life style, I was convinced that these villagers have a history to talk about and they have lived here for many decades. Most of the villagers were elderly people as their children have left to more urban town centres. Their economic activity varies with most of them being petty traders and self employed.

I then met a whole bunch of them in the community hall. I was warmly welcomed and they related to us about their plight. I listened and posed them two major questions which will determine my own intention if I want to continue working with them.

The first question was if they think that they have a right to stay in their current homes and the second is, if someone else claims that they have the grant titles of their land, then will they move out. They responded strongly that they have rights, they spoke how their fore fathers came many years ago, how they build this village and said that they will fight to be here. I was shown a photo of the village taken in the year 1960s where there were only 2 building in Mantin town which I recognised as the rest must have come up after the village was set up. Some questioned me, where do you want us to go?

Looking at all angles, I was convinced with their plight. Along with friends from Community Front (CF) a front of PSM, we decided that the people have a legitimate right to struggle and that they have a genuine case.

During our discussion we also learned of many disturbing issues among them that some villagers have already taken compensation and left. The amount that has been given ranged between RM 1,500 till RM 7,500. The amount is low by any standard. Many claim that they were either cheated or threatened into accepting the amount. When asked what would their demand would be, the remaining villagers wanted to stay put in the current land or failing which they want to be given a plot of land or a house in the same location. I thought their request was reasonable.

The Hakka villagers claim that their village is more than 100 years old. They trace their history right back to 1860. Most of them came from Hui Zhou, China and was brought by the British to work in the tin mines, they settled in a village in Mantin known as Kampung Attap because of its roofing. Today the same village is known as kampong Hakka. They have a temple Tokong Tan Gong and a school SJK Chi Chi Mantin, both with a hundred years history.

Today these same people are humiliated as squatters, illegals’ and chased away. The Developer Mega 9 which only existed in this history in the year 2005 is now calling them squatters. Squatters is equated to criminals by the former Lord President Tun Azlan Shah. They are defined as people who illegal built houses in Government land.

In the case of Kampung Hakka, these villagers were given TOL (Temporary Occupation Licence) by the Seremban land Office since 1960s. They also have been paying quit rent to the local Municipal Council even till now. Looking at all this, there is no way that they can be called squatters or illegal.

But sadly, going by experience, we have one big problem in this country. It is how our Judiciary and legal system define who has rights or not. It is narrowly defined that those who hold the land title are the legitimate owners. In this case of kampong Hakka, somewhere in 1987, the villagers heard that their land is being taken away for a development project. The Government then sold the land to private developer and it became clear in 2005, when the local Government decided that Mega 9 a private company will be given the Kampong Hakka land to built a mixed development project which includes 374 houses including 116 low cost houses and shop lots.

Therefore Mega 9 who came last to the land overnight becomes the King while the people who initially built the village and the settlement are condemned as squatters and illegals. This is the sad reality where the might is decided by money and corruption while justice is buried under a paper called “geran tanah”.

On 26 August 2013, the villagers lost their case in the Seremban High Court. The decision was made in chambers while the villagers waited in the open court. The court only saw who had the land title and it was decided that the villagers must give vacant possession to Mega 9. Mega 9 took an Order 89 application and was successful. This is unbelievable. In normal circumstances, the court should reject the Order 89 application and order for a full trial since Order 89 is a summary proceeding which is normally done in clear cut trespassing issues. Here a trial is warranted as there is a long history of the villagers’ existence. This not a simple case of someone trespassing or not paying a rent.

The High Court narrowly interpreted the issue. This is an issue of equitable rights, this is an issue of rights to shelter and this is an issue of rights to livelihood as enshrined in the Federal Constitution Article 5. But the court seems to have chosen just to see who has the land title and gave the death sentence to the villagers. 

The lawyers for the villagers applied for a stay of execution and obtained a court date to hear the stay on 17^th. October 2013. However on 25^th September, Mega 9 developer served notices to the houses giving them 7 days to vacate the land. But in less than 5 days, they came with the full might of the police force, TNB and court bailiffs to evict the people.

Why the hurry, when there is a court date pending on the 17^th? Why the hurry when there is an appeal? Why couldn’t the bailiff just wait for 30 minutes extra to allow the villagers lawyers to be present when their lawyer, a State Assemblyman was in the Dewan Negeri and said that he will be there by 11.30am.

In spite of all that, the bailiff citing higher orders carried on with the eviction. The police used excessive force to arrest, injure and humiliate those who were protecting the houses. 13 people were arrested and 3 houses were demolished. The demolition machine engine only stopped when the villagers lawyers finally came 15 minutes later. Later an interim stay was granted till the 17^th. October 2013. I greeted this news with a huge applause with the other detained along me at the Mantin police lock-up. At least, the entire village was not in ruins.

As we celebrate world habitat date, I hope the State Government will come to its senses. It is the role of the State to ensure its people be given adequate houses. In this case, in the first place how could the State Government approve a development plan without first resolving the issues faced by the Kampong Hakka villagers. Isn’t this policy called profit before people. Why can’t the state resolve the housing issues or better still, why not make this a heritage settlement. It seems the State authorities have been paid off handsomely by the developer. This is the only logical explanation I can come to and many people feel likewise.

As the remaining villagers ponder their future, I repeat the question to them. Do you want to surrender or fight on?  They said that they have no choice but to fight on. More villagers have now come forward after the rude awakening they got on 30 September.

As for us in the PSM, this is a class war between the rich powerful against the poor. The policemen while recording my statement after the arrest asked if I lived in Kampong Hakka or if I have relatives there. For him, it is a joke that among 13 people arrested, there were 6 Malaysian Indians caught protecting Chinese villagers. I told him that, I have been arrested before for supporting the plight of Palestinians, so what is the big deal in supporting affected people in Mantin, Negeri Sembilan. He felt embarrassed and soon started to speak our language- the language of the poor.

While there are still people keep arguing on technical matters if the villagers  were right to defend their homes, why didn’t they take the compensation etc but the bigger issue remains that a 100 year old village and the villagers are being forcefully evicted because some big company has made a move and some big people have taken a cut. The rest of us have a choice where we want to stand in this dispute.

For those who want to support, the kampong Hakka struggle, please contact Ghandi at 0166862080.   

Written by,

Arutcheclvan

Activist & PSM’s Secretary General